The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-01
MEMPHEs DAILY APPEAL--sUNDAY. MAY /. 1857.

dealt so oppressively were always
recognized, incorporated and char
tered by laws and kings. In England
it would seem as if the temperate
liberty and law abiding spirit of our
race, so long as equal laws prevailed,
rendered all such organizations iuno-
cent, safe and fruitful of the public
welfare. 1t must not be forgotten
that some Of the most ancient cities
were formed by the aggregations of
the crafts guilds. We still possess
the statutes of such guilds dating
from the eleventh century. There
are twelve guilds in Norway, twelve
in Kinr's Lynn, nine in Bishops
Lynn. Canterbury had three, and
Dover had guilds and a guildhall.
York had three and Beverly had
four, but in London there were
seventy. London is believed to have
been the birthplace of the guilds,
and the constitution of London was
based upon the guild and served as a
model for other English towns.
According to Judicia Civitates
Lundonii in the time of King Athel-
stane, the firth guilds of London
united into one guild, which gov
erned the town and gave law not only
to its members, but to non members
living in the city. The liveries or
companies of the City of London are
seventy-four in number, and are
evidently the old traditional guilds
from which the old municipal law of
London sprang.
THE GUILDS RECOGNIZED BY LAW.
We have said that so long as these
organizations were recognized and
protected by an equal law the peace
and progress of industry was main
tanned, and the live and the dead cap
ital joined handsin the common wei
fare. Toward the end OF the last
century the doctrines of political
economy, under the plea of free con-
tract, broke up the old relations of
and employed, and the con-
Ifict between capital and labor be-
came perpetual. The power of CAPT
.al is all but irresistible, for the poor
must labor for the bread of life.
Hunger lays this necessity upon
hem for the sake of their homes and
themselves.
When the law ceases to intervene
organizations for mutual defense 1
rise into being. The ,
Knights of Labor aud the English
raje unions represent the right of
abor and the right Of association
or its defense, The power of capt.
al may be estimated from the fact
hat out Of more than 100 strikes not 1
more than five or six have ended in .
avor of the workiugmen. Their de-
,endence is so absolute, and the
hunger and sufferings of the homes,
II weak women and innocent child
en-, are so intolerable and imperious, :
hat the conflict between the live
nd dead capital is most unequal,
nd the freedom of contract, in
7hich political economy glorifies {
tself, hardly exists, 1t is surely,
hen, the Office of the Ichurch to
rotect the poor and the labor which
as built up the human common
Tealth.
Cardinal Gibbons carefully guards
he Knights OF Labor from the Q,
harges OF violence which sometimes
rise from organizations of industry VI
q England. Deeds of violence have
tanned the cause of labor, but it was
recisely ignored when Legislatures
ad not as yet recognized the liberty
association. The legal recogni-
on OF trades unions broupht with it
ne legal restraints which render
lch acts punishable at law. 1t may
e said that the violent deeds of (
AIDES unionists have ceased to exist. 8
hey were the abuses of an undeni- In
BILE liberty which the law did not n =,
rotect. Ol
HE RIGHTS OF UNORGANIZED La -,
Dor. Nv
The same is true when the liberty :
association is abused to Cypress
le liberty of labor in those who are |
Inside of the association. Such th
IT'S are not only abuse, but suicide, an
r the liberty Of labor is vital to the NJ
Derty of association. The law in i6l
cognizing both, protects both. de
hey exist when each respects the
her. When they clash, they cease A.
be. The law protects both alike, Te'
+ law is the guardian of all liberty. To
HEN Y EDWARD, Cardinal. gu
ARCHBsHoP's HOUSE,, WEsTMINsTER. 10;
FRANCE. FFa o
To-